Phillies Scoop: Someone has to go to clear way for Carlos Ruiz's return

By JACK McCAFFERY

Saturday, April 27, 2013

NEW YORK -- Carlos Ruiz will be eligible to rejoin the Phillies Sunday after serving a 25-day suspension for failed drug tests.

Charlie Manuel won't have a big decision to make: He's planning to ram the veteran catcher right into his lineup.

The front office will have a decision: How do they make the roster room?

The odds-on choice is for the Phillies to demote one of their two catchers, Erik Kratz or Humberto Quintero. Before a game against the Mets Friday at Citi Field, assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said it would be "highly unlikely" for the Phillies to keep three catchers.

Entering play Friday, Quintero was hitting .313 in six games. Kratz had played 20 games, hitting .185 with two home runs. Quintero has become the designated catcher for Roy Halladay -- a luxury that won't be necessary, with the veteran right-hander known to be comfortable with Ruiz.

"We haven't made a decision on which way we are going to go yet," Proefrock said. "It will probably be something we make a decision on after the game (Saturday)."

Manuel said it is "more than likely" that Ruiz will start Sunday, catching starter Cole Hamels.

"I think he is going to help us because everybody on the staff feels real comfortable with him," Manuel said. "And he is a tremendous defensive catcher. He throws good, blocks balls good -- real good -- and the last two years, he has come into his own as a hitter. So he is going to help us offensively. He is going to give us some different options in our lineup. He is definitely going to help us.

"He is going to help our all-around game, which is good."

Asked if Ruiz would better help the Phillies with his offense or his defense, Manuel said, "Both. I'd say both."

Jonathan Pettibone will make his second career start today (1:05) when he opposes the Mets' Shaun Marcum.

The 22-year-old right-hander pitched 5.1 innings in a 3-2 victory over Pittsburgh Monday, throwing 83 pitches and allowing two earned runs. He took a no-decision.

"He pitched very, very well the first time out," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "We'll watch him. He threw 80-something pitches. Usually, you like to be able to add, comfortably, 10-to-15 pitches the next time, but it will be according to the game, and if he has to grind in certain innings and what-not."

Manuel is confident that Pettibone can build on his success.

"He's got to keep himself under control and stay focused on what he is doing and get some confidence off of his first game," the manager said. "He has to basically pitch his game. He is going to be new to (the Mets), too. So he has to just relax and go out there and pitch like he can."

For the second consecutive game Friday, Ben Revere was not in the starting lineup due to a sore quadriceps.

Though he said he would be available in "an emergency", Revere sounded before the game like he'd prefer to rest through the weekend, take the off-day Monday, then be fully healthy when the Phillies visit Cleveland Tuesday.

"I will test it out tomorrow and do some base-running and some BP stuff," Revere said. "I kind of feel a little something in there. But it is a lot better from where I felt yesterday. I will take some more anti-inflammatories and it could be 100 percent."

The Phillies do not believe Revere will require a disabled-list hitch.

"It doesn't seem any more than a day-to-day kind of thing," Proefrock said. "My understanding is that he may be available (Saturday)."

Revere doesn't expect the problem to linger.

"It's off and on," he said. "But you don't want to aggravate it again. I don't want anything to rip or pull, and then I would be out for most of the year. So part of my main thing is to be able to run comfortably."

John Mayberry started in center field Friday. In addition to his quad, the Phillies are hoping Revere's batting average -- .207 -- benefits from the rest.

"I hope it helps him, yes," Manuel said. "I think this is not hurting him. Mentally, I think he needed a blow. I think sometimes when you get a couple days off, it helps you. I think it definitely could."

NOTES: Delmon Young (ankle) played nine innings, went 2-for-4 and raised his average to .471 in a Lehigh Valley rehab performance Friday. Proefrock: "I think it's a matter of him getting some at-bats and him making sure that he's ready to play the outfield. He's moving around, and we've gotten some feedback from the staff as well." ... Aware of the Mets' depth of left-handed relievers, Manuel had Michael Young between Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in his order Friday. "I definitely like to have a right-handed hitter in-between sometimes," he said. "I think that's very important. But any time we want to go off and start banging lefties, I just might line them all up in a row and let them go." ... Proefrock insists there is no medical issue affecting Mike Adams, who had complicated offseason rib surgery, but who was ineffective in his last outing Wednesday.

... Halladay will pitch the opener of the series in Cleveland Tuesday. Cliff Lee will start Wednesday.